Conversation! Supple sentences, with first and second meanings and overtones beyond, outrageous challenges with cleverly planned slip-points, rebuttals of elegant brevity; deceptions and guiles, patient explanations of the obvious, fleeting allusions to the unthinkable. As a preliminary, the conversationalist must gauge the mood, the intelligence and the verbal facility of the company. To this end, a few words of pedantic exposition often prove invaluable.

Notice this rent in my garment; I am at a loss to explain its presence! I am even more puzzled by the existence of the universe.

There was a writer in the '20s called Christopher Morley, who I remember a little bit of, who had some influence on me, but I couldn't tell you what it was.

What is peace? Balance three iron skewers tip to tip, one upon the other; at the summit, emplace and egg, so that it too poises static in mid-air, and there you have the condition of peace in this world of men.

I thought that automobiles were going to have mufflers and go fast and airplanes were going to fly fast.

Jack Vance's Lyonesse books are the greatest fairy tale of the twentieth century.

The life we've been leading couldn't last forever. It's a wonder it lasted as long as it did.